Five keys to the Eagles-Redskins game

Forget to remember

1. It seems almost aeons since Andy Reid had his way with the Redskins. The Eagles coach once owned Washington, sort of the way the Phillies have dominated the Dodgers of late. But something happened four years ago. After winning nine of his first 12 games against the 'Skins, Reid has done one thing not many other coaches have: made Washington look good. The Eagles are 3-5 against Washington since, having lost both meetings last year - including a gruesome 10-3 loss in the penultimate game of the season. This time, the Eagles need to keep pace with the NFC East-leading Giants, open their first division game with a W and stave off bloodthirsty fans spurred on by the success of the baseball team across the street.

Consider the source

2. Redskins coach Jim Zorn had his offensive play-calling responsibilities yanked from him after last week's debacle against the Chiefs. Owner Dan Synder handed the playbook to Sherman Lewis even though the former Packers offensive coordinator - lured out of retirement two weeks ago - hasn't coached in five years. Snyder's midseason panic attack and the emasculating of his head coach can't bode well for team continuity. Still, the offense has scored only 13.2 points a game. Quarterback Jason Campbell, benched last week, will be under center to start tonight against the Eagles, who have caused an NFL second-best 14 turnovers.

Over the middle

3. The Redskins have three offensive playmakers: running back Clinton Portis, wide receiver Santana Moss, and tight end Chris Cooley. Contain them and you win - rather easily. Portis should see a steady stream of carries, even though some have already lumped him in the same category with the Eagles' Brian Westbrook: over-the-hill running backs. But Portis, despite having the same nagging bumps and bruises that have hampered Westbrook of late, is still a productive workhorse. He's rushed for 447 yards on 106 carries (4.2 average) this season and matches up well against an Eagles run defense that suffered a blow when middle linebacker Omar Gaither was lost for the season with a Lisfranc fracture of his foot.

Groundhog Day

4. It has become the broken record that never gets fixed. Reid and Mornhinweg favor the pass so much that you often wonder if the Eagles even have a competent running back. They do. Westbrook showed last week that he still has some burst left in the rocket, rushing for 50 yards on six carries and grabbing nine passes for 91 yards. But the Eagles dropped back to pass 54 times as opposed to calling 12 run plays. That ratio won't likely work against Washington. The Redskins' pass defense ranks third in the NFL, surrendering only 169 yards through the air. It's been 29 games since an opposing quarterback has eclipsed a 100 passer rating. The run defense, meanwhile, is ranked 22d and has allowed two tailbacks to rush for more than 100 yards.

Offensive line

5. If the Redskins can pressure Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb as much as the Raiders did last week, the Birds are in for a long night. Washington's pass rush is vastly improved over last season and that, in part, accounts for the Redskins' success in defending the pass. Defensive end Andre Carter entered the weekend sixth in the league with 51/2 sacks. Rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo, a converted end, has 31/2 sacks. The Eagles allowed six sacks last week, but only four could be pinned on the offensive line. The Eagles were happy when they learned left tackle Jason Peters' knee sprain wouldn't keep him out of tonight's game. Left guard Todd Herremans is also back.

Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com.